Obama seeks aid for Palestinian unity government

The Obama Administration is seeking subtle changes in Congressional restrictions banning aid that might reach Hamas. While the prohibition on direct aid to Hamas (in P.L. 110-161) would remain in place, a Palestinian "unity government" that included Hamas could receive aid "if that government were to accept and comply with the Quartet principles," according to a spokesman for the National Security Council. Rep. Nita M. Lowey , D-N.Y., heads the House Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations, which oversees the legislation. Secretary Clinton said "We have worked with the Palestinian Authority to install safeguards that will ensure our funding is only used where and for whom it is intended and does not end up in the wrong hands," but critics believe that these safeguards are already eroding and could fail altogether if Fatah agrees to bring Hamas into a unity governement.